Volunteer opportunity – Support Tackling the Blues Mentor (arts and mental health strand)
Tackling the Blues (TtB) is an arts, sport, physical activity and education-based mental health literacy (MHL) programme. It supports children and young people aged 6-16 in schools throughout West Lancashire and Merseyside, who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing, mental illness. TtB is delivered in partnership between the Faculty of Education and the Department of Sport and Physical Activity at Edge Hill University (EHU), Everton in the Community (EitC) and Tate Liverpool. To date, TtB has engaged over 3,000 children and young people through weekly sessions in primary schools, secondary schools and community groups.
TtB offers a range of interactive and engaging activities to work with children and young people who, once engaged, participate in tailored educational and peer-led activities to tackle experiences of conditions associated with mental illness. The art strand of the programme also introduces creative art practices and uses access to Tate’s extensive national collection of British art and contemporary and modern art to engage children and young people in discussion and activity around mental health literacy.
What does the role entail?
As a Tackling the Blues Support Mentor, your main responsibilities are:
- To develop positive relationships with children and young people in your sessions to ensure that they are gaining a full understanding of the programme’s learning outcomes.
- To work with TtB Coordinator and Lead mentors to support the design and delivery of tailored mental health literacy and art sessions in schools following the TtB curriculum.
- To support all evaluation and recording activities from sessions in an accurate and timely manner.
- To attend and participate in all relevant training activities.
- To ensure adherence to all relevant safeguarding policies and procedures.
You will also have the opportunity to undertake the following responsibilities:
- Engagement in research activities in line with existing ethical protocols.
- Attending TtB induction and training programme, including certified mental health training.
- Help to develop the arts education programme and tailor it for individual cohorts.
- Develop relationships with schools and community groups/wider children’s workforce through attending meetings and liaising with staff.
- Support with the recruitment of new schools, community groups and stakeholders.
- Support the design and delivery of TtB events and activities throughout the year, including events aimed at students at Edge Hill University.
What would be expected of you?
- Work with Tate Liverpool, Everton in the Community and Edge Hill University to help deliver a quality programme of arts and education-based sessions to children and young people.
- To reliably attend all scheduled sessions in schools. Sessions are negotiable but will require a regular weekly commitment during term time.
- Be able to work as part of a team to design and deliver mental health-based classroom and arts activity-based sessions.
- To tailor and adapt sessions specific to the group you are working with including primary school and secondary school-aged children and those attending special educational needs units/schools.
- To comply with all aspects of safeguarding policy for Tate Liverpool, Everton in the Community and Edge Hill University and any partner school in which you may be working.
- To engage in relevant training opportunities as required.
- To work professionally at all times and to represent the University, Tate Liverpool and Everton in the Community in line with agreed expectations.
- Students are also expected to hold a valid Enhanced DBS certificate or be willing to go through a DBS clearance process.
- Business/volunteer insurance is essential if you are travelling to partner schools in your own vehicle.
Further details
This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity for Edge Hill University students. Out of pocket travel expenses will be reimbursed.
| Title of opportunity | Tackling the Blues Support Mentor (arts and mental health) |
| Available to students studying (Faculty and programme) | This opportunity is for Edge Hill University students looking to gain experience of working with children and young people and developing skills, including creative and participatory practices, within an educational context from: – Faculty of Education – Department of Creative Arts programmes – Department of Sport and Physical Activity – Faculty of Health, Social Care & Medicine on the following programmes only: MSc Psychotherapy and Counselling – Contemporary Creative Approaches, MSc/BSc (Hons) Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing, BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies, BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies and Criminology – Department of Psychology on the following programmes only: BSc (Hons) Educational Psychology, BSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Psychology |
| Employer and payment | This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity organised through Edge Hill University. |
| Collaborating organisations | Tate Liverpool and Everton in the Community |
| Short description of opportunity | Tackling the Blues (TtB) is an arts, sport, physical activity and education-based mental health literacy (MHL) programme. It supports children and young people aged 6-16 in schools throughout West Lancashire and Merseyside, who are experiencing, or are at risk of developing, mental illness. TtB is delivered in partnership between |
| Expected duties (including travel requirements) | You will be responsible for: – Committing to the role for the whole academic year. – Absence for course placements can be negotiated but please inform us of these at application stage. – Engage in all agreed programme research activities as requested – Attending a TtB induction and training programme – Attending certified mental health training Support lead mentors in the planning and delivery of classroom sessions. – Taking part in regular review meetings with programme Coordinators and Research Assistants, fellow mentors, CPD opportunities and update meetings as required Support the evaluation and reporting of sessions – Establishing and building rapport and trust with the children and young people on the programme – Be a positive role model for children and young people Report welfare or safeguarding concerns about children and young people to educational professionals and programme Coordinators – Travelling to schools which are situated across the Liverpool City region and West Lancashire. Business insurance is necessary if travelling by own car. |
| Requirement | Hold a valid DBS certificate obtained through Edge Hill University or be willing to go through a DBS clearance process. Must be eligible to work in the UK and produce evidence of required visas if necessary. |
| Start and end date | From October 2022 – July 2023 |
| Agreed work pattern (days and hours) | To be negotiated. Timetabling of hours will be agreed with individuals but it is expected that the TtB programme will run 5 days a week throughout term time, so it is essential that mentors are able to commit to attending all their scheduled sessions. We will endeavour to work around university commitments, including any placement requirements. |
| Time expected to commit to the project | Negotiable but could be up to 15hrs per week. |
| Maximum expenses payable (as per Faculty policy) | Car users will receive 45p per mile for miles above and beyond journeys from/to Edge Hill University. It is the car user’s responsibility to have business/volunteer insurance cover in place prior to any journeys made. Users of public transport will be reimbursed in full with proof of receipts/tickets. All mentors will need to follow institutional processes to be paid for expenses. |
| Contact for further discussions | Phil McClure Phil.mcclure@tate.org.uk 07768454029 |
| Application deadline | 20/10/2022 |
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How do I apply?
Please fill in the application form that below.
Also please submit a talking personal statement (minimum of 5 minutes) outlining the following:
- Why you are interested in becoming a Tackling the Blues mentor and what makes you suitable?
- What skills and experience do you have and how they are relevant to the role?
- What you want to achieve from the role?
When are the interviews?
When you receive confirmation of an interview, a date will be sent to you and you will be asked to confirm that you can attend.